Palmer's been decent leading the Bengals to a 3-1 start. The hot lights of the ‘Hard Knocks' camera seem to have been good for the team. Even though they barely squeaked by a brutal Browns team, it's the NFL. Every game's a battle. His 2 TDs to Chad Ochocinco give him 6 on the season, though his 5 INTs are a cause for worry. He is a low end No. 1 option, and a good flex option going forward, even going into a tough matchup against the Ravens.
Averaging over 90 yards a game this year, Benson has been one of the top fantasy surprises thus far. He went for 74 yards with no TDs against the Browns. Despite his early season success, he is a low end No. 2 option against Haloti Ngata and the tough Ravens' run D.
Week in, week out, no one in the league talks more than Ochocinco. With 17 catches and 3 TDs thus far this season, Ochocinco has backed up his talk and re-found a rhythm with Palmer. That said, he should be started only based on potential to get in the end zone, a No. 2 fantasy option. The Ravens' D limited the Pats big targets and will likely do the same this week.
He had 2 catches for 24 yards against the Browns and doesn't figure to do much better against the tough Ravens corners. He is not an advisable fantasy option at this point in his career under any circumstances. The fact that he was targeted 6 times, to Andre Caldwell's 4, is the only reason he's even considered the Bengals' No.2 guy.
The second year WR out of Florida is on pace to have 64 receptions this year. That's not bad for a guy who came in as their No 3 WR. He's still a low-level fantasy option. There are any number of guys like Caldwell on the waiver wire, and against the Ravens is an inadvisable option.
Though he was the Bengals leading receiver with 44 yards against the Browns, Foschi is an inadvisable option against the Ravens. He seems to have replaced Ben Coats as the No. 1 TE, and bears watching. He's a decent bye week option, but not this week against the Ravens.
Graham is a low end kicking option, having missed a 23 yard FG and a PAT against the Browns. He's just not very good, like ‘Saturday Night Live' this season.
The 20th ranked unit hasn't held an opponent under 300 yards yet (11 NFL teams have allowed an average of less than 300). They gave up 373 yards to the Steelers and 395 to a below average Browns team the last two weeks. That said, they're averaging 3 sacks a game (led by Antawn Odom's league leading 8) and have scored two DTDs. They're a lower tier starting option against a Baltimore offense that's really been playing well.
Flacco is the No. 4 overall scoring QB in all fantasy football this season. He was one Mark Clayton drop away from a huge victory in Foxboro last Sunday in his third game with multiple TD passes (9 TD- 3 INT overall). He's a strong-armed field general, a winner and a must start at this point against a Bengals passing D ranked 28th in the league.
Rice had lost carries to the high scoring McGahee (who actually started on Sunday), but will surely get them back after his 152 total yard performance against the Pats. While he only got 11 carries, he caught 5 passes and was targeted 7 times. He's a low end No. 1 fantasy RB.
McGahee started against the Pats, but only racked up 11 yards on 5 carries. He did get into the end zone on a 13 yard reception for his NFL leading 7th TD. With that kind of scoring potential, he should be starting as a No. 2 fantasy RB.
Mason is on pace for his 8th 1000 yard season in 9 years. He had 6 rec for 77 yards in the first quarter against New England, but disappeared shortly thereafter, only registering 7 rec for 88 rec yards on the game. He's a solid No. 2 fantasy option against the Bengals.
Two weeks ago, we called Clayton, 'another decent vet on whom young Flacco can rely.' Well, after his now-infamous drop on fourth down against the Pats, we're rethinking that stance. Whatever the case, you and your fantasy team should not depend on him.
Washington had 4 receptions for 31 yards against the Pats. He's still an inadvisable start, but with Clayton becoming a goat, and his projected total of 64 catches, keep watching him. Still, he's a 7th year guy that's never really played a lot. Not worth a start except in only the deepest PPR leagues.
Heap's on pace to have over 50 catches, which makes him a viable lower tier fantasy TE, especially as a bye week replacement in PPR leagues. He had 4 catches for 46 yards against the Pats and has a favorable matchup against the Bengals.
A pretty good kicker on a high scoring team, Huaschka didn't kick a FG against the Patriots. He's still a recommended start as a strong legged dependable kicker on a team that scores a lot.
The Baltimore D had a tough matchup against the Patriots after dominating the Browns the week before. Their pass D, ranked 25th in the league and blasted by Peter King in MMQ this week needs to bounce back. Expect them to do so against the Bengals 19th ranked passing attack. They're a definite must start.
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